Newark man charged with possession of machine gun

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark man has been charged with illegally possessing a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced May 8.

Anthony Reynolds, 26, is charged by federal criminal complaint with one count of possession of a machine gun, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a machine gun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, on May 2 at approximately 8:40 p.m., Newark police officers were conducting surveillance in marked patrol cars in the area of Summer Avenue and May Street in Newark, with the specific purpose of minimizing social gathering of citizens in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

One of the officers observed several individuals congregating on the sidewalk within close proximity to each other. The officers stopped their patrol cars and exited their vehicles. As they did so, one of the officers observed Reynolds remove a black handgun from the front of his waistband and place it underneath a parked vehicle. An officer looked underneath the vehicle and observed a .40 caliber Glock 23 semiautomatic handgun, which was loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition.

Law enforcement officials determined that the firearm was fitted with a Glock conversion device, commonly referred to as “Glock Switch,” which has the effect of converting a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a machine gun.

Reynolds was then placed under arrest. A search of Reynolds incidental to his arrest revealed a small clear sandwich bag containing suspected marijuana and $655.25 in U.S. currency.

Each of the three charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.